Gulf Pines KOA, Milton, FL:  Out to breakfast this morning and then headed to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.  But instead of taking I-10 we dropped south on Rt. 87 to the drive along the barrier islands and the pristine, white sand beaches along the Gulf Islands National Seashore.  The last time we were down here was right after Wilma and a lot of the roads were impassable.  Heading west towards Pensacola Beach there was a long stretch of just sand dunes, sea grass, and the green waters of the Gulf.  No buildings.  No sign of human habitation.  Beautiful!   The sand is so white it looks like snow.  But off in the distance you could see the high rise condos of Pensacola Beach.  West of Pensacola Beach is Santa Rosa Island and Ft. Pickens—another of the historic forts along the barrier islands.  Discovered there is a really nice campground at Ft. Pickens.  We stopped briefly at the fort but plan to return either at the end of our winter trip, or when we come down next winter.  Left there and headed across Pensacola Bay for the Naval Aviation Museum at the Naval Air Station.  Spent the rest of the afternoon there.  Stopped for some burgers on the way home.  77 today and mostly sunny.

The pristine white sand beaches of the Florida panhandle

Looks like snow, doesn't it?

Approaching the high-rises of Pensacola Beach

Historic Ft. Pickens

Naval Aviation Museum

This historic plane, the Dauntless dive bomber, is the only known survivor of both Pearl Harbor  and the Battle of Midway